WEBVTT ASE IN AUGUST, EVAN MINTON WAS ASTEP CLOSER TO TRANSITIONING>> IN ORDER TO LIVE MY MOSTAUTHENTIC LIFE, THIS IS WHAT INEED TO DO FOR MYSELREPORTER: TWO DAYS BEFORE HISHYSTERECTOMY, .MERCY SAN JUAN WENT OVER HISPRE-OPERATION CHECKLIST. AND EVAN MENTIONED SOMETHING THEHOSPITAL MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN, HEIS TRANSGENDER>> I GET GENDER DYSPHORIA SO BADTHAT I WANT TO CRAWL OUT OF MYSKINREPORTER: THE NEXT DAY THEHOSPITAL CANCELED HIS SURGERY,RELIGIOUS DIRECTIVES THEN OFFERED TO SEND HIM TO ADIFFERENT HOSPITAL, MONTHSLATER, HE'S SUING THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.>> WE FEEL VERY CLEARLY THATTHEY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST MEBECAUSE I'M TRANSGENDER AND THATIS AGAINST THE LAWREPORTER: EVAN DID HAVE THESURGERY AT ONE OF DIGNITYHEALTH'S METHODIST FACILITIES.AND SINCE THEN HAS ALSO HAD APHALLOPLASTY>> I FEEL THAT MY BODY ISFINALLY REFLECTIVE OF WHO I AMAND I FEEL CONGRUENTREPORTER: TODAY DIGNITY HEALTHWOULDN'T SPEAK ABOUT THE CABECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN SERVEDWITH THE COMPLAINT.BUT LEADERSHIP DID SAY, QUOTE WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THISSURGERY IS FOR TRANSGENDERINDIVIDUALS, AND WERE HAPPY TOPROVIDE MR. MINTON AND HISSURGEON THE USE OF ANOTHERDIGNITY HEALTH HOSPITAL FOR HISSURGERY WITHIN A FEW DAYTHE ACLU CLAIMS THE HOSPITALVIOLATED THE STATE'S UNRUH CIVIL RIGHTS ACT WHICHPROHIBITS BUSINESSES THAT SERVETHE GENERAL PUBLIC FROMDISCRIMINATION OF ANY KINDSACRAMENTO DEFENSE ATTORNEY,JOHNNY GRIFFIN SAYS THEY MAY.JOHNNY GRIFFIN SAYS THEY MAYHAVE AN ARGUMENT.>> IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THEWHOLE SEPARATE BUT EQUAL YEARSAGO.WHERE, IT WAS OK TO DISCRIMINATEBUT AS LONG AS YOU PROVIDESOMETHING THAT WAS EQUALLYBALANCED.SO, THIS IS WHY THIS IS AN AREAOF THE LAW THAT NEEDS TO BESETTLED BY THE COURTS.REPORTER: EVAN SAYS HE'LL FINDSATISFACTION IF THE HOSPITAL

The next day, the hospital canceled his surgery and offered to send him to a different hospital.

"We feel very clearly that they discriminated against me because I’m transgender — and that is against the law," Minton said.

In the lawsuit, the ACLU argues that denying medical care to patients due to their gender identities is "sex discrimination in violation of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act."

Sacramento defense attorney Johnny Griffin said Minton may have a case against the California-based hospital system.

“It kind of goes back to the whole 'separate but equal' years ago, where it was OK to discriminate, but as long as you provide something that was equally balanced," Griffin explained. "So, this is why this is an area of the law that needs to be settled by the courts."

On Wednesday, the health system, Dignity Health, said in a statement it can't reply to allegations because they have not been served with the complaint.

"What we can share is that at Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center, the services we provide are available to all members of the communities we serve without discrimination. We understand how important this surgery is for transgender individuals, and were happy to provide Mr. Minton and his surgeon the use of another Dignity Health hospital for his surgery within a few days.

"We do not provide elective sterilizations at Dignity Health’s Catholic facilities in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs) and the medical staff bylaws."